PACP bans ‘weight loss’ coffee

MUSCAT HE Dr Said Bin Khamees Al Ka’abi, Chairman of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP), has banned the sale of vitaccino coffee, which claims to have weight loss benefits.

PACP has urged people to stop using the product until it gets licence from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The product has been found to cause dangerous side effects.

The ban decision No. 32/2012 comes as the product violates standards approved at the Directorate-General of Specifications and Standards at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Distributors of the product had claimed it was effective in losing weight and reducing appetite and that it absorbed fat without side effects, which led to a big demand for the product.

But it was found that the product was not licensed and had no medical approval. PACP called upon people to call 800 77 997 or 800 79 009 if they find the product in the market and ordered suppliers to stop selling it. It will conduct inspections to ensure the ban is enforced.

Oman Tribune

Traders laud PACP for protecting consumers

To raise consumer awareness on prices ,the consumer protection authority will soon publish a price list in local papers

MUSCAT Traders have welcomed the efforts made by the Public Auth­ority for Consumer Protection (PACP) to protect consumers and its initiatives to hold the price line.

The traders told a survey undertaken by Al Watan that the initiative undertaken by the Council of Ministers to provide food subsidies will have a positive influence on the market and stabilise prices of basic commodities. They lauded the government’s efforts undertaken thro­ugh the PACP to monitor prices, combat monopoly and apply laws on trader-consumer relations.

The PACP was founded through Royal Decree No. 26/2011 following people’s complaints of galloping prices and unacceptable practices followed by traders.The businessmen also questioned the findings of an OCCI study: ‘The economic impact of government interference in defining prices of commodities and services’. The study had criticised the government’s interference in the market.

According to them, the chamber has a role to play in coordinating relations among big companies, traders and small, medium and major commercial establishments.

They said the chamber has to be more transparent, take into consideration issues of demand and supply and also the role of all the parties involved.

They called on the chamber to evaluate the study in a practical way.

According to writer Dr Abdullah Abdulrazaq Bahajaj, the study has shocked many people and raised questions on the relevance of the study, which has drawn the anger of the Nationals, especially as the study criticised the government’s move to control prices. Bahajaj says the study deals with food and water which are part of everybody’s life.

Abdullah said everybody as waiting for the chamber to develop a national initiative to make businessmen to play a significant social role.

The study also brought to light the greed of some traders, as it brought into the open the differences between the government and some businessmen.

Mohamed Bin Abu Bakr Al Ghasani, CEO of Glory Company, said the chamber has to shoulder its responsibility, not only in defining prices but also in monitoring the rise in prices and protecting consumers and traders from monopoly.

No one imagined that greed and deviousness would reach such a staggering level that thought exist only in movies and investigative drama shows , yet it became a stark reality when some merchants sought to make a profit on the account of health and safety of the young and adults alike utilizing the God-given intellect that they posses into destruction and evil instead of serving public good , the devious plan used ( Back to school ) season by carving holes inside books and hiding chewing tobacco inside in away from the inspectors notice targeting the younger generation with these destructive materials that effect the health , mind and safety of our kids .

The Judicial officers noticed that consumers come very frequently to a specific shop during one of the inspection tours which raised their suspicions to strengthening the monitoring and follow up on that matter , students were spotted in the shop as well , the Officers expediently intervened to inspect the shop , the inspection did not reveal anything at first , however , the officers noticed a stack of books and decided to inspect it , surprisingly , they found more than 600 pouches of chewing tobacco on its way to be sold and distributed on consumers and students , the officers immediately issued a violation and referred the case to the General Prosecution to deal with the matter as per the Law